Looking ahead; looking back

Published: Sunday, August 3, 2014 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 2, 2014 at 7:31 p.m.

There appears to be a crack in the Ocala City Council’s once-solid wall of support for the saggy pants ordinance.

Last week, Mayor Kent Guinn spoke up against the ordinance. Too much government intrusion, he said.

Councilman Brent Malever said he was open to a reconsideration. Malever had voted yes on the ordinance, which gives him standing to request a formal revisiting.

Councilman John McLeod, not present when the ordinance was passed, doesn’t sound like a strong fan of the rule, which prohibits people from wearing saggy pants and exposing their underwear while on city property.

So...

If Malever seeks, and is granted, a chance to revisit the ordinance.

And if Malever and McLeod vote against...

And if the ordinance fails to garner a veto-proof — four out of five — majority...

And if the mayor is willing to wield his veto pen...

Then maybe a change could happen.

That’s a lot of “ands.”

And it’s not too late. The council made the wrong decision. It should reverse course.

***

Five years ago today, Marion County took a punch to the gut.

On Aug. 3, 2009, federal agents raided Taylor, Bean & Whitaker headquarters. Within days, the mortgage company was closed; its partner, Colonial Bank in Alabama, was kaput; and more than 1,000 local people were out of work.

TBW was one of the county’s biggest employers at the time. But, as we note in our report on page 1A today, the unemployment rate is no longer in double digits.

Lee Farkas’ buildings are being put to good use. His restaurants, among the best in town, thrive under new owners.

Still, if you lived here five years ago, it might be tough to say that all is forgiven and forgotten.

Author and WOCA-AM 1370 radio host Buddy Martin said Aug. 3, 2009, was “our own little version of the stock market crash.”

(Disclosure: I am an occasional guest on Martin’s radio show.)

Farkas put Ocala on the map — the wrong map.

Instead of “horses,” the word that people associated with Ocala for a while was “hucksters.”

Stories about the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009 always seem to mention him and his oddly named business and its oddly located home city.

“There are many reasons to feel upbeat about our future, including signs of a real estate rebound, new businesses like FedEx and perhaps a revitalized Silver Springs,” Martin said.

“Have we turned the corner? Probably not,” he said. “But maybe it’s time to turn on our blinker.”

Jim Ross can be reached at 671-6412 or jim.ross@ocala.com. Follow him on Twitter @jimross96.

<p>There appears to be a crack in the Ocala City Council's once-solid wall of support for the saggy pants ordinance.</p><p>Last week, Mayor Kent Guinn spoke up against the ordinance. Too much government intrusion, he said.</p><p>Councilman Brent Malever said he was open to a reconsideration. Malever had voted yes on the ordinance, which gives him standing to request a formal revisiting.</p><p>Councilman John McLeod, not present when the ordinance was passed, doesn't sound like a strong fan of the rule, which prohibits people from wearing saggy pants and exposing their underwear while on city property.</p><p>So...</p><p>If Malever seeks, and is granted, a chance to revisit the ordinance.</p><p>And if Malever and McLeod vote against...</p><p>And if the ordinance fails to garner a veto-proof — four out of five — majority...</p><p>And if the mayor is willing to wield his veto pen...</p><p>Then maybe a change could happen.</p><p>That's a lot of “ands.”</p><p>And it's not too late. The council made the wrong decision. It should reverse course.</p><p>***</p><p>Five years ago today, Marion County took a punch to the gut.</p><p>On Aug. 3, 2009, federal agents raided Taylor, Bean & Whitaker headquarters. Within days, the mortgage company was closed; its partner, Colonial Bank in Alabama, was kaput; and more than 1,000 local people were out of work.</p><p>TBW was one of the county's biggest employers at the time. But, as we note in our report on page 1A today, the unemployment rate is no longer in double digits.</p><p>Lee Farkas' buildings are being put to good use. His restaurants, among the best in town, thrive under new owners.</p><p>Still, if you lived here five years ago, it might be tough to say that all is forgiven and forgotten.</p><p>Author and WOCA-AM 1370 radio host Buddy Martin said Aug. 3, 2009, was “our own little version of the stock market crash.”</p><p>(Disclosure: I am an occasional guest on Martin's radio show.)</p><p>Farkas put Ocala on the map — the wrong map.</p><p>Instead of “horses,” the word that people associated with Ocala for a while was “hucksters.”</p><p>Stories about the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009 always seem to mention him and his oddly named business and its oddly located home city.</p><p>“There are many reasons to feel upbeat about our future, including signs of a real estate rebound, new businesses like FedEx and perhaps a revitalized Silver Springs,” Martin said.</p><p>“Have we turned the corner? Probably not,” he said. “But maybe it's time to turn on our blinker.”</p><p><i>Jim Ross can be reached at 671-6412 or jim.ross@ocala.com. Follow him on Twitter @jimross96.</i></p>